Tempo-indicator for mechanical musical instruments.



No. 858,708. PATENTED' JULY 2, 1907.

. r Q G. H. DAVIS} v TEMPO INDICATOR FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIQATION FILED APR. 15, 1907.

I I I I I I l l 1 0 2 4O 6O I18 I H 20 I I Q agio Andcmfu ModcmawAllegro k attozmga G ICORGE l'lO\\'lJl*ll"l DAVIS, OF WEST ORANGE. NEW .TlCILtSE'Y.

TEMPO-TNDIGATOR FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed April 16,1907. Serial No. 368,299.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known thatl, Gnounn Hownu'r'r DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New .lerscy, have invented new and useful lin irovements in Tempo-Indicators for l /lechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to tempo indicators for self playing nuisical instruments such as piano players or player pianos. of the type that employ perforated music sheets as th ir controlling mcdium'for the actuatinp devices and is in the nature of an improvement upon my priorpiitent 748,266, dated December 29,

\ The object of the invention is to provide a simple and the music sheet 'in order to enable a novice to accurately play any musical composition with all the fine gradations of tempo intended by the original composer, arranger or interpreter. A further object of the invention is to provide means whcreby the tempo may be accurately followed in exact accordance with the specially arranged tempo line, or whereby the interpretation of the tempo line may be followed, but to a relatively faster or slower degree.

By Way of example I have illustrated the invention as applied to a player piano, but it will be obvious that the same may be applied to piano players or other forms of sell-playing musical instruments.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a player piano showing the attachment applied in position for use. Fig. 2, is an enlarged plan view of the attachment. Fig. 3, is a similar view of the tempo scale with which the I tempo lever co-operates.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 1,

designates the removable front board of a player piano; 2, the delivery spool on which the perforated music sheet 3 is wound; 4, the take up roll for the music sheet; and 5, the tracker over which the sheet travels. The music sheet is shown as provided with the usual zig zag dotted line 6 and is also shown as provided along one edge with a zig zag line 7 constituting the special tempo marking representing the tempo of the musicalcomposition as interpreted by'a master, composer, orother duly qualified musician, The reference numeral 8, designates the usual tempo lever, and 9, the graduated dial over which it is moved. These tempo levers and dials are now commonly employed in self-playing musical instruments and operate to control the teinpo mechanism of the instrument.

My improved attachment comprises a. movably i-nounted scale 10, which may be made of any suitable matorial but preferably of metal or celluloid. either transparent or opaque. said scale having graduated marks or divisions on the upper face thereof, as well as the usual tempo indicating words adagio, "nioderato, allegro, and presto. these words being properly arranged relative to the scale markings and corresponding to the like characters and divisionson the dial 8. The scale is also provided at its outer or free end with a handle 12 by which it may be readily moved into and out of operative position, and adjacent the imposite end are the words slow and fast, above control which is a line or mark and intermediate the said lines or marks is another line lettered 13, to designate the normal position of the scale. aswvill be presently explained.

The scale 10, is mounted in any suitable manner so as to be adjusted across or transversely to the path of travel of the perforated music sheet 3, and is preferably disposed directly above the tracker 5. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown ,the scale as mounted to slide in a way formed by the two plates 14, attached by means of screws to a part of the instrument, but it will be obvious that the scale may be otherwise mounted, the showing here being only by Way of example.

A fixed pointer 15, is attached to the tracker 5, or to any other suitable port of the instrument, which pointer is designed to co-operate with either of the three lines indicating fast, slow, or normal position of the scale. Instead of a fixed pointer 15,

attached as described, a simple mark may be e1nployed in lieu thereof.

The mode of operation of'the attachment is as follows:Assuming it is desired to interpret the musical composition exactly according to the interpretation indicated by the special tempo-line marking 7, the scale 10, is drawn out over the music sheet 3, until the normal? mark 13, on the scale is directly opposite or in .line with the pointer 15. If now the music sheet is caused to travel, it will be apparent that the special tempo-line 7, will move under one or the other of the divisions on the scale 10, according to the designated changes in tempo as indicated by the sinuosity of the line, and in order that the tempo mechanism of the instrument may be made to respond accurately according to this special tempo-line, it is only ncces sar'y'for the performer to manipulate the tempo lever 8, to bring the pointer thereof to register with the di visions on its dial 9, to correspond with the position of the special line-9, with reference to the divisions onthe scale 10, as often as the changes take place, The tempo lever 8 may be moved merely by ones sense of location as suggested by the passing of the line 7 under the scale 10, without actually lookingat the dial 9.

In some instances it may be desirable to secure the general'interpretationof the master or composer, as

and located inii'sucii'j position that the characters thereon may bebrought into exact register with the fixed pointer 151 By this means it will be seen that if the scale 10 is' adjusted so as to bring themark located "above the word slow in register with the fined pointer 15, then all the indications will be live degrees slower than when the scale is in normal position; and

if moved or adjusted to bring the mark located above the Word ffast in register with the fixed pointer 15, then all the in ications will be five degrees faster thannormal. It will thus be seen that with my improved scale the teinpo may be readily transposed, so 7 to speak. v

It will be obvious that owing to the simplicity of the scale th e same may be readily attached to any of the ordinary players or player pianos/now on the market and at small cost.

What I claim'is:-- v.l.'ln indicator mechanism for mechanical musical instruments. the combination with a perforated music-sheet hearing suitable marks 'or characters indicating effects to he produced in playing and a controller 53' which said effects are governed, of i. scale bearing characters indicating to the operator at what point to set the controller to obtain the desired musical efiects represented by the marks or characters on the sheet,-said scale being adjust- =-)le transversely. to the path of movement of the sheet will register with those on the sheet during the movement of the latter' I 2 in tempo indicating mechanism for mechanical inn-- slcal instruments, the combination of a perforated musicsheet hearing a tempodine and a controller by which the tempo is governed, a dial over which the controller is movable, and a scale adjustable transversely to the path 5 of movement of the music sheet.

3. In combination with the tempo controller of a niusical instrument, a dial bearing suitable tempo characters,

suitable marks on the scale to, determine a. music isheethaving a tempo line, and a scale bearing corresponding characters, said scale being adjustable transversely to the path of movement of the music sheet 4. In a mechanical-musical lpstrume'nt operated through the medium of a music sheet, the combination with a tempo controller, of a dial having characters to indicate each position of the controllerfa music sheet having a tempo line, and a scale arranged overthe usic sheet and adjustable transversely to the path 01 movement thereof, said scale bearing characters corresponding to those on the dial.

5. In amechanicai musical instrument operated through the medium of a musicshet, the combination with the tracker thereof anda scale arranged dboveand' adjustabl longitudinally thereof, said scale bearing temoc chnwg: tors.

G. In a self playing musical instrument the combinationwith the tracker, of a scale arranged adjacent, theretoane adjustable longitudinally thereof, said scalc bearing suitable tempo characte'rsf: v

7. In a selt playing musical lnstrument,jthe combination with the tracker; of a scale arranged adjacent thereto and adjustable longitudinally ,thereof, said scale bearing tempo characters,' and a music sheet'mouuted tatrnvl beneath said scale; the said sh eet having a ,tempo line thereon which co-oper at es wit l the tempo characters on the scale.

8. In a mechanicalmusical-instrument, the combination of the tracker, and a slidable scale adjustable iongi tmlb nully thereof:

9. Inamechsnical musical instrument, operated through the medium eta music-sheet, the combination of the tracker thereof, a scale adjustable longitudinally of the tracker, and an'indei to determinethc proper position of the scale. v

10. In a mechanical musical instrument, tbe comhinar tion of the tracker ,thereof, a scale adjustable longitudi 'nally oi the tracker, andha 'fix'ed index ice-operating with v the proper poi tions' thereof. v 7

11. in a mechanical mnsical'instrument; thef-combina ,tion r the trackenth ereef, ascale adjifstible'longitudi I nally'ot the tracker, and a fixed index cooperating with separatefimarks on the scale'aml determining the pnoper positions thereof to transpose the tempo.

In testimony whereof I h'avehereunto set my hand in presence of twmsuhscribing witnesses.

e. Hovvrimr news. Witnesses: MARGARET A. .Licons.

Enwano L. DAVIS. 

